B.J. Goodson rose quickly up the ranks with the Giants, playing in 15 games, all off the bench, as a rookie linebacker after arriving as a 2016 fourth-round draft pick from Clemson. He started seven games his second season and 13 games in 2018. Other than injuries keeping him off the field, Goodson appeared to be a big part of the defense.
Not so fast.
Goodson has been supplanted on the first-team defense by Tae Davis, a converted safety who was undrafted out of Tennessee-Chattanooga and defied the odds by making the roster last season.
This summer, Goodson is working with the second-team defense in training camp, and he played with the third team in Thursday night’s 31-22 preseason victory over the Jets. Goodson logged 28 snaps, and the more a veteran plays in these games, the worse it sometimes is for him.
“He had a couple of days he wasn’t out practicing, he’s getting back in there,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said. “He’s in that linebacker crew competing to be on the team.’’
This coaching staff is not satisfied with the way Goodson operates in space, as he is more of a downhill run-stopping inside linebacker. Davis is quicker to the ball in coverage, and there is also the presence of Ryan Connelly, a rookie fifth-round pick from Wisconsin, who played 29 snaps in his preseason debut and is thought to be more capable than Goodson at dropping into pass coverage.
The Giants continue to await word about the four-game suspension of WR Golden Tate for violating the league’s Performance Enhancing Substance Policy. Tate was at NFL headquarters on Tuesday to appeal the ruling.
“As of now, I have not heard anything,’’ Shurmur said Friday.
Rookie CB Corey Ballentine is making serious strides toward not only sticking on the roster but also filling a role, both on defense and special teams. He had an interception against the Jets and also had a 40-yard kickoff return after bobbling his first attempt in the end zone.
“I think the first one I just got a little bit ahead of myself,’’ Ballentine said. “I was looking downfield because I was just so ready to go. The second one I handled a little bit better. I’m back there because they know what I can do and it’s just up to me to prove it. I enjoy being back there. I’m looking forward to doing it more in the future.’’
The Giants came out of the game fairly healthy. LB Alec Ogletree (calf) and RB Wayne Gallman (foot) were listed as banged up and RB Jon Hilliman is in the concussion protocol. Shurmur said WR Darius Slayton, CB Grant Haley and OT Chad Wheeler, all held out of the game dealing with injuries, should be able to get on the field sometime this week.
Rookie CB DeAndre Baker started and played 35 snaps, working deep in the game with the reserves.
“DeAndre Baker performed really well,’’ Shurmur said. “He’s a gamer, and you can see that. One thing you look for when a rookie goes into a game is if it’s too big for them. All of the guys in the secondary, I thought they competed and you could tell it wasn’t too big for them.’’
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